Coker encouraged by improving depth at quarterback

UTSA coach Larry Coker says there will be competition at quarterback this fall.

In the aftermath of Eric Soza’s impressive debut last fall, the Roadrunners have strengthened the position with quality talent.

Here’s what Coker had to say on Thursday about Soza’s development and the continuing development of the position:

“(Eric) has really matured a lot. He’s a tough kid, and as I mentioned a little earlier, his dad’s a high school football coach, so he knows the ins and outs of football.

“I think he’s improved. Probably the thing that impressed me as much as anything is that he’s very smart and he’s also very tough. He’s a competitor. He’s a tough kid.

“He really somewhat carried this football team offensively all year because we really didn’t have a lot of great players here and there. That’s the thing he did. He really put us on his shoulders. I’m not sure people realize how much he did carry our team.”

Translated, the starting job is probably Soza’s to lose. All that being said, Coker noted that the junior from Beeville will be challenged, dropping the names of redshirt freshman Ryan Polite and junior transfer Tucker Carter

“What’s really exciting for us is that its’s going to be competitive at the quarterback position,” the coach said. “Ryan Polite has really had a great offseason. Tucker Carter we signed out of Trinity Valley (Community College).

“We signed the runnerup Player of the Year in Arkansas (Zach Conque). Hopefully we can redshirt him. The quarterback position, we strengthened it in the offseason.”